Kanye West’s 2020 Tweet on Drake, Kendrick, J. Cole Gains New Attention Amid Feuds
3 min read
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The “Big Three” of hip-hop—Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole—have dominated the genre for years, but 2024 has marked a significant turning point in their careers. Once united by their shared influence and talent, the trio is now embroiled in public feuds that have shaken the industry. Drake and J. Cole’s careers have suffered under the weight of controversies, while Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the genre’s reigning king. Amid this chaos, an old tweet from Kanye West about the “Big Three” has resurfaced, offering a glimpse into a time when collaboration seemed possible.
In 2020, Kanye West took to Twitter with an ambitious vision for Drake, Lamar, and Cole. He called for unity among the trio, proposing that they work together to elevate the genre and challenge the traditional music industry structure. “We need J Cole Drake Kendrick all in a room 2gthr,” Kanye tweeted. “It’s time to get free… we will not argue… while somebody we don’t know in Europe is getting paid.”
A tweet from Ye in 2020 has resurfaced and gone viral.
In it, he mentions J. Cole, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.
"We need J Cole Drake Kendrick all in a room 2gthr… it's time to get free… we will not argue… while somebody we don't know in Europe is getting paid." pic.twitter.com/EQ4u9DtFy5— No Jumper (@nojumper) November 27, 2024Advertisement
The tweet, now semi-viral amidst Drake’s legal battles with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, reflects a stark contrast to the fractured relationships among these artists in 2024. West’s message not only highlighted his desire for creative unity but also carried a deeper critique of the music industry’s exploitative systems.
For over a decade, Kanye West has been outspoken about the limitations imposed by traditional record labels. His battles with industry giants have cost him financially, but he has repeatedly declared himself “free” from their control. In the same breath, West criticized Drake for being too aligned with label interests, even referring to him as a puppet for powerful executives.
Fast forward to 2024, and West’s remarks seem prescient. Drake’s lawsuit against UMG and Spotify suggests growing dissatisfaction with the very system Kanye sought to dismantle. However, instead of coming together as West envisioned, the “Big Three” have turned against one another. This year has seen Drake and J. Cole embroiled in controversies, while Kendrick Lamar has leveraged the chaos to solidify his dominance in the industry.
Drake is taking legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify, alleging they conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
According to Billboard, Drake’s filing accuses UMG of a “scheme” involving bots, payola and other methods to… pic.twitter.com/59qLpVkZAC— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) November 25, 2024Advertisement
Interestingly, Kanye’s 2020 tweet also aligns with his more combative tone during a 2024 appearance on The Download podcast. There, he accused Drake of benefiting from favoritism at UMG, even labeling the executive Lucian Grainge as Drake’s “rich baby daddy.”
As fans revisit Kanye’s call for collaboration, they can’t help but wonder: What would the hip-hop landscape look like if these titans had united instead of clashing? While the answer remains speculative, the tweet serves as a poignant reminder of what could have been—a powerful alliance aimed at reclaiming artistic and financial control in an industry notorious for exploitation.
In hindsight, Kanye’s vision for the “Big Three” feels like a missed opportunity, but it also underscores his enduring influence and foresight in a rapidly changing music world.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
